There are all manner of credit cards tied to the Hilton line of hotels, but they all basically do the same thing: let you earn points which can go towards free stays, upgrades, and other benefits when you stay in one of the Hilton line of hotels.

Two of these cards are the HHonors Visa Signature and the HHonors Reserve card which both offer some pretty good rewards for users and mostly differ in who will most likely be eligible for them.

With that in mind, we’ll take a look at both of them, compare them out and you can see which one is right for you! If you’re a Hilton customer anyway, why not get rewarded for your loyalty after all?

4.5 / 5 stars

Comparing the Benefits

Both of these cards give HHonors points which can be redeemed for free nights in one of the hotels in this chain. You can also use them for merchandise or for things like concert tickets or game tickets, even car rentals. The points are fairly flexible, making this a pretty useful hotel and entertainment pair of cards. Where they differ is in how many points you get.

With the Reserve card, you get 10 bonus points/$1.00 spent on hotel stays in the Hilton HHonors group, 5 points/$1.00 spent on airline and car rental and 3 HHonors points for every $1.00 you spend on everything else. On top of that, you are automatically bumped up to Gold status in the HHonors tier and if you spend $40,000 a year or more on your card, you get bumped up to diamond status which means even more perks!

The Visa Signature on the other hand starts you out with a bang: 40,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first three months of owning the card. On top of that, you can earn 6 HHonors points/$1.00 spent on hotel stays (HHilton hotels), 3 points/$1.00 spent in groceries, drugstores and gas stations and 2 points/$1.00 spent everywhere else. You cannot get them quite as quickly as you can with the Reserve, but the huge bonus points is nice. You also get put on Silver status with HHilton which gives you some additional perks when staying in the hotel chain.

The Reserve card, in lieu of the 40,000 bonus points, gives you 2 weekend night certificates after spending $2500 within the first four months of owning the card and every year that you spend a minimum of $10,000 on the card, you get an anniversary present of one weekend night certificate. Time things right and staying in a luxury hotel has never been more affordable! The Visa Signature does not give this option, though the 40,000 bonus points will certainly go a long way towards free stays.

Both cards also feature a host of services which are simply built into the cars. For example, both cards give you $0 liability on unauthorized charges, coverage in case of trip interruptions or cancellations, car rental insurance, Price Rewind (which can help you save money by refunding you the difference between the product you bought and a cheaper version), lost luggage coverage and no-preset spending limit. Both cards also give you Visa Signature benefits such as concierge services, last minute reservations and discounts. For the most part, the included benefits are identical between the two cards which makes things a little easier when it comes decision time.

Comparing the Costs

The cost comparison of these cards is also interesting and important to look at, particularly for those who want to ensure that they will get the most bang for their buck. The Visa Signature card has no annual fee and a lower variable APR than the Reserve card. The Reserve on the other hand has an annual fee of $95 and a higher variable APR. (though only by about 1%). What this means is that you have to make sure that you will use this credit card-and its rewards-enough to warrant spending an annual fee on it if you go for the Reserve. The Signature on the other hand doesn’t have that issue and so it’s much easier to feel as though you are getting more for your money.

Keep in mind that though these credit cards can carry over a balance, if you exceed your ‘upper limit’, you do have to pay all of that back before the due date of the card or else be penalized. The no pre-set spending limit simply means that you don’t have to worry about your credit card being declined if you find yourself stretching your budget.

At the end of the day, making your decision is going to be based on how many miles you want to be able to earn on less money versus how much you’re willing to pay for speed. Take into account how much money you will spend on your credit card and how often you intend to stay in this chain of hotels because if you aren’t a frequent spender or a frequent customer, there may be little point to either card. If you are however, then either card works fine and it will be down to your goals and spending habits. Enjoy!

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